Ryan White and HIV Testing Day

Ryan White and HIV Testing Day

June 23, 2016

TARGET Center

The proportion of HIV-infected individuals who know their status has improved in recent years, demonstrating progress toward objectives set forth in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the HIV Care Continuum, both of which include the goal of expanded testing to reduce further transmission and link infected individuals to life-saving HIV/AIDS care. Being on treatment has the added value of serving as a prevention strategy as individuals whose virus is fully suppressed are highly unlikely to transmit infection to others (see video on the Treatment Cascade and an earlier Ryan White video, Test and Treat).

HRSA/HAB Policy Guidance on PrEP

See the June 22 2016 HRSA/HAB Dear Colleague letter on PrEP. The letter reiterates that Ryan White funds cannot be used for PrEP medications or medical services related to PrEP such as physican visits or lab tests related to PrEP. However, HRSA/HAB states that Ryan White fund recipients and providers can provide services like risk reduction counseling and targeted testing that are part of a comprehensive PrEP program.

Despite progress, gaps remain. According to CDC, approximately 12.8% of infected individuals remain unaware of their statusand thus are not benefiting from antiretroviral treatment. Many of the 50,000 new HIV/AIDS infections occurring each year are transmitted by individuals who do not know they are infected.

HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Resources

Care agencies, including HIV/AIDS programs, have policy flexibility and technical resources to help them expand HIV testing in order to identify infected individuals and engage them in care. The need to do so remains great. See highlights below:

Health Care Reform and HIV Testing. In April 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued recommendations that assigned an “A” rating to routine HIV testing for all adolescents and adults ages 15 through 65. The new rating means that routine HIV screening is now defined as one of the preventive services under the Essential Health Benefits (EHB) package that must be included in all new group and individual plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).